AT&T sends us tips for international traveling

iPhone users on AT&T received an email filled with tips on how to manage usage and save money while traveling internationally. With access to email, Visual Voicemail, safari and data using applications, it doesn't take much to rack up a very expensive bill while abroad. Instead of surprising you with a giant bill, AT&T has decided to give iPhone users some saving money strategies. Here they are:

If you want to place calls but not use data, turn data roaming "OFF". This will block email, browsing, Visual Voicemail and downloads, but it will not block SMS or MMS messages. But feel free to use wifi; you can do so without accumulating any data charges.

If you want to use data but not receive email automatically, turn Fetch New Data "OFF". This will allow you to have total control of your data usage because nothing will be synced or downloaded in the background without your solicitation.

If you want to use data and track your usage while abroad, consider purchasing an International Data Package. The 20 MB package is $24.99 per month, the 50 MB package is $59.99 per month, the 100 MB package is $119.99 per month, and the 200 MB package is $199.99 per month. If you decide to purchase an international data package it is recommended to reset the usage tracker to zero so that you can estimate your data usage while abroad.

Any of you plan to travel abroad for the holidays? If so, which of AT&T's tips are you planning to partake in?

Reader comments

AT&T sends us tips for international traveling

I have gotten variations of these in snail mail a couple times now, a few useful tips but they're pushing their own service. What ATT won't tell you is that the best thing to do for traveling abroad is to just unlock your phone and then buy a local sim card, many offer data plans and it's far cheaper than any of the international plans ATT offers.

@Lance, yeah, so Jailbreak it. And if you dont like the jailbreak, then unjailbreak it when you are back. The fact is that AT&T will charge you more than the cost of a new phone when you get your billl with the roaming charges. $2.00 or more per minute!!!

I recently went to Europe.. I SO wish I jailbroke &unlocked, but foolishly instead I paid the data plan and had to watch my data like a hawk. google maps will eat thru 20MB in an instant, which is a hard lesson when maps are necessary in an unfamiliar city. Hell, if ur considering their obscene rate for 200MB, you might as well go full blown and just buy an iPhone overseas which I think is already unlocked by apple legitimately. AT&T's suggestion to use wi-fi overseas is silly cuz Europe has far fewer free hotspots than you normally find in the US. As much as I love my iPhone, I hate the greedy carrier lock.

its absolutely shameful how much they charge for international data. these plans are what.. supposed to be for international business travelers? frankly, a businessperson who pays $1 or more per megabyte is beyond moronic

Seoul Korea rocked with the 50mb plan and lots of free wifi. They don't have sims for use there. Just had to rent a crappy 3G while there for phone calls home to US, or it would've been 2.29 minute vs. .60

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